James Tapsfield

Follow all the latest elections developments in the

Rishi Sunak is hunkering down for a grim day as results continue to flow in, with experts warning the Conservatives are on track for their worst showing in 40 years.

It has been impossible for weeks to find a Tory who thought they would win the Blackpool South by-election.

Polls ahead of the election yesterday suggested that Sadiq Khan was on track for a comfortable victory over Tory rival Susan Hall.

Labour’s David Skaith became the inaugural elected mayor of York and North Yorkshire this afternoon, a new position that covers the Prime Minister’s Richmond constituency.

Chris Philp insisted he was being ‘rhetorical’ as he was challenged over the awkward response given while being quizzed about details of the government’s policy.

The Republic is looking at legal avenues to force asylum seekers to return to Northern Ireland , after raising concerns that 80 per cent of recent arrivals had crossed the border.

Peers admitted defeat in their desperate efforts to water down the legislation just before midnight, with one describing the moment as a ‘funeral’.

Former Scottish First minister Nicola Sturgeon spoke outside her home after Mr Murrell, 59, was formally charged last night.

As Rishi Sunak launched a ‘moral mission’ to help more people into work, the IFS released estimates underlining the mounting scale of the problem.